Corporate Advocacy Program: The best way to manage and repair your business reputation. Hiding negative complaints is only a Band-Aid. Consumers want to see how businesses take care of business. All businesses will get complaints. How those businesses take care of those complaints is what separates good businesses from bad businesses.

On January 8, 2013, I signed a contract with RPS worldwide to collect a debt on my behalf ($7,872.80). Their agreement was that they would pursue the case for no fee but receive 30% of anything they collected. On Feb. 21, 2013, they left a voicemail asking me to call them immediately. It turns out that they were able to collect the entire amount. The woman I spoke with on the phone told me that they would process the invoice and send me a check for $5510.96 on March 20, 2013 (I have a print out of my account statement stating this as well).

It is now June 24th. Up until about April they were giving me excuses for the delay. Now they no longer answer their phones. After leaving numerous voice messages and emails, I decided to check out the reviews and they are not good. Apparently, they have a history of frustrated customers. After requesting an appointment in Orlando, filing complaints with the Florida District Attorney's Office and Better Business Bureau, I finally received a check for my portion minus their fee last week. Less than a week after cashing it, the check they sent was returned for insufficient funds incurring bank fees. Long story short, they flat out stole my money. They collected on my judgement that was all rightfully owed to me and would have legitimately earned around $2,400 but instead went the scam route and stole over $5,500 from me.

Since the check has bounced, I have done more research. William T. Ficka is the President of the company who's signature was on the check and name was one the package information the check was sent in. From what I can tell, he is tied to a number of collection agencies and has run this scam all over the country. I found complaints in Alabama, Georgia, California and Texas (where the FBI was mentioned as being involved). Most complaints involve unfair debt collection practices but my situation is out and out theft. From what I can tell their game is to start up a company and than dump it once the reviews are bad enough etc. and start another one. I'm not sure how they are able to keep incorparating the same type of business with such a horrible track record. Beware of any company owned by William T. Ficka!! Just because you aren't putting money up front doesn't mean there isn't a risk. Hopefully, I can get something back by pursuing the hot check but the Better Business Bureau is reporting that they closed so it may be tough. I'm sure they'll pop-up with another name soon.

Corporate Advocacy Program: The best way to manage and repair your business reputation. Hiding negative complaints is only a Band-Aid. Consumers want to see how businesses take care of business. All businesses will get complaints. How those businesses take care of those complaints is what separates good businesses from bad businesses.